Los Angeles @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 8, Colorado 5

The Los Angeles Dodgers aim for their seventh straight win at Coors Field on Friday, when they continue their four-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Chris Taylor and Brian Dozier homered in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 8-5 victory to help the Dodgers move into a first-place tie with idle Arizona in the National League West.

Cody Bellinger and pinch-hitters Joc Pederson and Max Muncy also went deep for the Dodgers, who will be without Kenley Jansen for the rest of the series as the closer was sent back to Los Angeles to be treated for an irregular heartbeat. Scott Alexander filled in for Jansen on Thursday and recorded his second save while Manny Machado went 2-for-5 with three strikeouts in his first career game at Coors Field. Colorado lost for the seventh time in nine contests to fall 3 1/2 games back in the NL West despite Chris Iannetta’s three hits, including a three-run homer. The Rockies’ bullpen allowed five home runs and closer Wade Davis was booed by the home crowd after failing to retire a batter in the decisive ninth inning.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (7-7, 3.73 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (9-7, 4.73)

Maeda has allowed four or more runs in each of his last four starts, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA over that stretch. The 30-year-old native of Japan surrendered five runs over 5 1/3 innings in Saturday’s 14-0 loss to Houston. Nolan Arenado is 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts against Maeda, who is 5-3 with a 2.18 ERA in nine career games (seven starts) versus Colorado - including a 4-1 mark and 3.00 ERA in five contests (four starts) at Coors Field.

Gray continued to impress with a solid outing on Sunday, when he allowed one run and four hits over a season-high eight innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee. The 26-year-old native of Oklahoma has gone 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA in four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on July 14. Gray owns a 3-3 record and 3.43 ERA in eight career starts versus the Dodgers, including a 2-0 mark and 2.53 ERA in four turns at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dozier is 8-for-26 with three homers and nine RBIs in eight games since being acquired from Minnesota on July 31.

2. Colorado activated LHP Chris Rusin (foot) from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Yency Almonte to Albuquerque.

3. The Dodgers activated RHP Ross Stripling (toe) from the 10-day DL and optioned SHP Pat Venditte to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Dodgers 4